assignment 4

Emily Rihm

Joe Griffin

English 111

13 November, 2008

                                                Teen Pregnancy and Safer Sex

Description: Although teen pregnancy has been declining over the past decade, the United States has the highest pregnancy rate of any western industrialized country. That is twice as high as in England or Canada and eight times as high as in the Netherlands or Japan.  There is a 34% chance of teen females to get pregnant by the age of 20 that amounts to 730,000 teen pregnancies a year.  That is an alarming statistics. The American Social Health Association estimates there are nearly 19 million new cases of sexually transmitted diseases in the United States each year.  Some may say that passing condoms out enables people to have sex, such as my mom.  It may be true, but I think anyone would prefer kids and teens to be safe and responsible rather than not talking about the consequences and not providing safe options.  Kids will have sex no matter what.  I just feel that people need to be informed better.

 

Genre: I will be making a teen pregnancy and safer sex pamphlet as well as writing a short paper to further describe the consequences and prevention.  I will include pictures, alarming statistics, and ways of prevention.  This may offend people such as my mom, but I will also include a condom and instructions.  It is better to be safe even if the subject is awkward.  Hopefully I can send my message in a non-threatening and less awkward way.

 

Audience: My target audience will be to teens.  About 20 percent of adolescents have had sexual intercourse before their 15th birthday.  One in seven of the sexually experienced 14-year-old girls has been pregnant, according to a report by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.  It is a major problem and people need to be informed of the consequences.  Two–thirds of all teen pregnancies occur among 18-19 year olds.  This is why my pamphlet will be very helpful.  College students are at the highest risk, so the information needs to be presented to them.  My pamphlet will also be helpful to anyone so they can be informed of safer ways to have sex and protect themselves.  People of all ages can use to learn a little more about STD’s, the risks of unprotected sex, and pregnancy.

 

Purpose: My pamphlet and paper will shine light on a taboo subject, teen pregnancy and safer sex.  People do not like to talk about this subject and the not so pleasant risks and consequences.  I want to make it more comfortable to talk about this subject.  Hopefully by making a colorful and interesting pamphlet my plan will work.